I'm running my first half marathon in 12 weeks. My training program starts tomorrow.

So, I have 12 weeks to get myself into shape. Is that really enough. I know it's too late now to do any additional training, but my fitness will need to improve a lot to complete the 13.1 miles.

Has anyone else achieved their first half marathon on just 12 weeks training?

I once did a 10 mile race with no training at all.
It was a bad idea.
12 weeks should be plenty of time

http://running.about.com/od/halfmaratho ... rathon.htm

10 miles with no training. Did you make it? I'm not sure I could if I had to do one right now.

I finished it but was toward the back of the field and had to walk parts of the course!
I would never advise anyone to do it without training. It was a painful experience

You have gprs phone?

endomondo.com

Ive been using it since I re-discovered my bike to and from work. Its a great motivational tool

I did my first half marathon last year, and after registering I probably had about 12 weeks to train as well. I put some effort in, but I had good and bad weeks in actually getting out there and running, so I wasn't as prepared as I should/could have been.

And I only truly realised that during the race when I really struggled over the last 3 miles or so. I was happy enough with my time as I knew I'd given it my all on the day but I knew I could have been better prepared.

Now I'm going to be running the same half marathon this year (in 10 weeks time) and I'm already training and happy with my progress, so hopefully it will make a difference on the day.

What sort of time did you get last year? and what's your target for this?

Any advice for my first run?

I got 1:48:43 and I'll hopefully be able to take a few minutes off it this year. I've not really gone far enough with my training to set a realistic target yet though, maybe 1:40.00.

One thing I know I didn't do properly was the pre-race prep, like eating the right food the day before. And something I've learned from last year was that you need to take on fluids during the race - I didn't and I'm sure that contributed to my struggle over the line.

There are some more experienced runners on here that will be able to give some better advice, but if you're motivated enough to start a 12 week training plan then I'm sure you'll be fine. Which run are you doing?

I have run one or two in the last few years.

How far/often are you running now? What is your ambition, to get around or to run a certain time? Once you let me know this i should be able to draw up a sensible plan for you.

Hi

I am a feast or famine runner and not very good either but with a wife that does 3 20 for marathon I get to do some races (Have done 7 marathons..very slowly)


Key with 12 weeks will be

1) Make sure you have had you gait analysed and have good trainers purchased on back of that
2) How many runs are you planning a week? In order to do yourself justice then you need at least 3
3) Are you starting from scratch? If so then you should only really add a mile a week to your longest run and start the first 2 weeks with short runs or run walks of max 2-3 miles
4) You only need to have run up to 10-11 miles beforehand
5) Split your runs so that the long run is not done at full pace but maybe 85-90% of shorter runs
6) If 3 runs then aim for 1 with a bit of hill - try one fartlekking (This is when you pick a point ahead to run as fast as you can to then recover beore ging again)

Ultimately 3 runs a week can get you a decent result - subject to alcohol abuse etc in between. If you can get a strength class or another run in then obviosuly even better

Good Luck!!

I'm running the New Forest half marathon. It looks quite hilly in places, but I guess that's par for the course over 13 miles.

I was planning on using a runners world plan, which a friend copied from a magazine. It's a 12 week, 3 days a week plan. I guess its fairly standard with mixed speed runs on Mondays, hilly runs on Wednesdays and then increasing distance runs at the weekend.

I'm a little worried that 3 days a week isn't enough training, but when I tried to train for a half marathon 3 years ago, I found I was exhausted doing 4 days a week and after 4 or 5 weeks picked up an injury which ultimately meant I couldn't compete in the race. Looking back, I'm not sure whether that was down to not eating enough (was trying to lose weight at the same time) or just because I was over-doing it.

My target for the race is to break the 2 hour mark, which at this stage seems impossible. I ran 6.7 miles on Saturday trying to run at 9 minute miles and I really struggled to finish the run, but finished in a time of 1 hour and 55 seconds. My fitness will need to improve a lot if I'm to maintain that pace over the longer distance.

I'm a firm believer that the quality of training is more important that the quantity. I'm training for my 3rd half in October and following a 3 run a week plan. I aim to beat my best of 1:47.

12 weeks should be sufficient so I'd say don't try to do too much too soon.

3 runs a week is PLENTY.

The runners world plans are excellent, follow the sub 2 one and make sure that you do your long run slowly. Try to race it to see where your fitness is at is simply wasting the most important run of the whole plan (almost to the point where you might as well have not bothered doing it).

As Padmole previously advised (and a your plan will no doubt include) just add a mile on to your long run each weekend with the odd week of lesser distance and peak around 10 or 11 and you will be fine. Padmoles advice on trainers was also an excellent one, trying to run in a pair that does not suit your gait will only get you injured.

Just looked up my half marathon count, its 38 since 2007.

Stay positive.

Start your training program with short runs and built up to slightly longer runs.
Dont worry if you have to walk, but try and avoid walking as it is very difficult to run again without walking again {if you know what I mean}.

Rest days during your training are as important as your training days, run every other day.

After a few weeks do one long run {eg longer than your standard runs}, do the long run on the same day as the race {eg a Sunday}, at the same time as the race would be ideal {bodyclock and all that}, you will not have to run 13.1 miles during training, I would built your long runs up to a 10 mile run a fortnight before and a week before just do an 8 .

Make sure you dont buy new daps for the race, if you need new daps get them now.
Wear your most comfortable kit, pants, socks, t-shirt for the race.
Eat what you are used to the night before the race.
Have a light breakfast on the day of the race, drink plenty of liquid before and during the race {its too late once you feel very thirsty}.

When it comes to the race as well as your training runs pace yourself, remember its speed that kills not distance in road running.
Always run within yourself and stay positive tell yourself you are going to do it.

I ran the London marathon many years ago now, there is probably a lot more info on training plans out there these days due to the internet etc.

Blimey, out of interest what's your top 5?

What would you advise re the profile of my longer runs. I can work a route from my home whereby it is generally flat or should I deliberately pick a route with some more hills to mimic the actual race?

Also, how slow do I run the long runs. If I'm planning on running the race at 9 minute miles, should I be doing my long runs at 10 minute miles?

You will first and foremost need to get the trip first during training runs ,you will need to be capable of running 7, 8 or 9 miles before you worry about covering those 7, 8 or 9 miles in a certain time, its good that you have a target in mind but if you are a novice runner get the distance first then you can worry about times, once you are continually able to run 8 or 9 miles then you can try and achieve the pace time you require for the half.

But to start with get the trip, dont forget its speed that kills not distance.{but you have to have the training/fitness to get the distance in the first place}.

Thanks, yep, must remember to learn to walk before I can run.

All really good advice

The key is to spend the time on your feet and dont overdo the running quickly bit at the expense of the time.

Run / walk can be an invaluable way of building up the time on the road. Then gradually reducing the walking time and increasing the running time until you can keep going non stop.

Then you can look at adding more speed

Remember that come the day - being able to run non stop at 10 minute miles will be better than 8 miles at 9 minute mile and 4 at 15 minute

New Forest half should be great

I recommend trying to get 1 10k race in before if possible around 3 or 4 weeks before just to get you used to a race. Dont aim to go out fast for that (But you will as everyone elses pace will impact on you) but aim just to get around

Great advice from all the runners above and my only comments are to make sure you are well prepared on the day.
12 weeks is plenty of time and just build up slowly - don't be looking at your watch all the time during your training runs - just go out and enjoy the running.

If you are only doing 3 runs per week try and make one of those a faster pace run - say half a mile faster than usual/half a mile recovery and repeat 5 times over 5 miles and that will help you run more comfortably at a slower pace for longer on race day.

Good luck

Thanks for all the advice so far, but, I'm a bit confused with all this slow running. I can see that I need to get the miles into my legs and don't want to burn myself out, but when do I move up to the pace I want to run the race at?

Do I gradually make my longer runs faster or do I just run the actual race fast having built up the stamina/fitness over the 12 weeks of training?

In my experience the plans never have you doing your long runs at your goal pace.

Two reasons for that as far as I can see.
1) As others have said the long runs are more about building stamina than speed and the adrenalin on the day will give you that extra 10%.
2) The other 2 runs per week are normally over shorter distances and at a quicker pace than your target. It is these runs that help improve your overall fitness and running speed.

The combination of all three runs should mean that on race day you are fitter, have more stamina, and can achieve your desired pace.

I must say though that the above is only true if your goal pace is realistic.